Friday, August 12, 2011

Authors - Both full time (meaning a commitment to contribute 1-2 pieces per month and periodic contributors.
Subscribers- Subscribe to receive The Creative Spark as soon as they are available!
Editor- Looking for 1-2 people to *volunteer* their time to edit the submissions on the website.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Submissions can be sent to sub@creativespark@live.com for The Creative Spark e-zine.

This quarter (3 monthly issues) will be focused on the adventures and mishaps of life and love. Next Quarter (3 monthly issues) will be focused on horror. The Third Quarter (3 monthly issues) will be focused on Sci-fi/Fantasy.

You may submit for any of these three quarters at this time. The subject of your email should be as follows:
Submission: Title: Quarter

Submissions under 2000 words should be in the body of the email. Submissions over 2000 words should be sent in .doc or .docx file. (Anyone whose file does not pass the security virus scan will be considered to have intentionally and maliciously have tried to compromise the integrity of the system and e-zine.)

Please send one piece per email. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but if it is accepted someone else, please send another email. At this time we are only accepting previously unpublished works (blogs and critiquing websites are not considered previously published). You will retain all copyrights to your work.

There is no word or line limits. The only limits are those that your imagination presses upon you.

Please make sure your work is spell-checked. These should be works ready to be published. Anyone looking for an editor I suggest Becca Faith Editorial. Tell her I sent you! ;)

At the end of your email please include your name, or pen name and an optional bio of up to 200 words.

All submissions are due the 24th of each month. If your piece is received after it will be used for the next issue, unless we are on a new Quarter.

“Surprise!” Eric said as he took off the blindfold that was covering his girlfriend, Ally’s, eyes.

Ally got out of the car and looked around. “Where are we? What’s going on Eric?” Ally looked in front of her and saw a large metal gate and a small building to her right. There was a narrow winding path beyond the gate that she presumed led into the woods.

Eric put his arm around Ally’s waist and let her to the gate, where a guard stood. She noticed a lot of people were at the gate and wondered what was going on. “I wanted to do something special for you, since your birthday is coming up.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the check.

Ally just looked at him and shook her blond curly hair. “Whatever. My birthday isn’t for another week Eric.”

“So, I’m a little early. But it was today or never. And I knew you’d hate me if you found out I didn’t do this for you.” He grinned with anticipation, knowing he was giving her the surprise of a lifetime.

Ally stopped and turned to face Eric. “So, where are we? We drove for a long time. What time is it?”

Eric looked at his watch and replied, “Eight.”

“Eight?!? Eric! We drove for three hours! Are you insane?”

“Calm down Ally! What is the matter with you? Jeez, I thought I was being thoughtful. But maybe you’re right. We should just head home. It’s just some stupid concert you wouldn’t want to see anyway. It isn’t not like they’re front row and I put a lot of thought into your present, or anything.” He couldn’t believe how she was acting. She could be so ungrateful. He knew his friends wondered why was with her. She could be really sweet though, when it suited her.

She could tell he was mad, and she didn’t want that. He was too nice to her. She knew she’d have to be nicer.

“I’m sorry. Thank you Eric. It’s sweet. Who’s playing?”

“That’s the best part! Who is your favorite boyfriend?"

Ally shrugged. “I don’t know. It depends on who is playing,” she teased.

“Well, in that case, I think it will be because it’s your favorite band.”

At that moment all of the color drained from her face.

“That’s right! The one and only…. UNUSUAL! Isn’t that great? They’re front row!”

“Home?” Eric asked with astonishment. “Nonsense. It’s just excitement,” he said as he grabbed her arm and half dragged her toward the path that led to the arena.

***

Meanwhile, the guys from Unusual-Jack, Michael, and Brent- were backstage preparing for that night’s concert.

“This is going to be the most awesome show of the millennium guys!” Jack exclaimed, bursting with energy. “I’m so excited!”

Jack looked over at his best friend and fellow band mate, Michael. He knew Michael wasn’t in a good mood, but didn’t know why.

“Are you O.K. man?” Brent asked.

“Shut up Brent!” Michael looked like he was about to kill someone, and at that moment, Brent was looking like a pretty good target.

Brent looked at Jack, but he just shrugged. “I’ll be back,” he mumbled, leaving Jack and Michael alone.

“If you wanna talk about whatever’s eating at you Mic…” Jack said and looked away.

“I think she’s cheating on me,” Mic mumbled.

Jack looked quickly at Michael in shock. Shocked at the announcement, shocked he admitted it. He almost looked scared at the admission.

“Allison? Why?”

Michael looked sheepish. “She’s been acting weird.” Jack nodded to show he understood. “So I looked thought some papers on her desk. There was another guy’s number on a slip of paper.”

Jack stood up and walked over to Mic and put his trembling hand on his shoulder. “How do you know it’s a guy’s number?” he asked fearfully. “Do you know whose it is?” Jack closed his eyes nervously anticipating Mic’s answer.

“She wrote ‘Eric’ above it in bubble letters.” He looked up at Jack, to see a look of relief wash over his face. “Why?” he asked suspiciously, but Jack just shook his head.

“Come on Mic. Let’s get ready. We have to get on stage,” Jack said, “We wanna check out the crowd,” he assed as they walked out to meet Brent.

They all walked to the corner curtain and Jack looked out. He couldn’t believe what he saw. He stared in shock and amazement. “Maybe we should skip scouting the crowd this time,” Jack said in a nervously quiet voice, as he turned around.

“What’s going on? “ Mic asked suspiciously. He pushed past his band mates and looked in the crowd. He stared at his girlfriend, who was in the front row with another guy. “The little…When I get my hands on her I’ll….”

Brent grabbed Michael’s shoulders and said, “Look at me. She is nothing.” Mic just shook his head and walked away, muttering, “No, she was everything.”

***

“Eric, really. Why can’t we go home? I don’t feel well.” She felt like crying. This couldn’t be happening. She knew what was about to transpire. The inevitable was about to take place right in front of her, and now was the time to pay for her sins, and deal with the consequences of her choices and actions.

“Why are you getting so upset? Why do you want to go?”

“I wish I could explain Eric,” she said with tears in her eyes, and looked away.

Eric grabbed her shoulders and gently turned her back towards him. “Honey, what’s wrong? What’s going on? Tell me, please.” He looked at her, his green eyes pleading not to be left in the dark.

“What are you sorry about Ally? Tell me!” He looked at the tears in helplessness and confusion. He hated to see her cry. He knew she’d been unhappy, and he hoped the tickets would make her smile and be happy, but it seemed to have to the opposite effect. “Please tell me,” he gave her a final plea as the lights began to dim.

“Can we leave? Please Eric? This is the last chance. We can get out of here and everything will be fine.” She knew it wouldn’t but she didn’t want it to be like this.

He could see that she was close to hysterics, and he couldn’t help but wonder why. His suspicions that she was keeping something from him intensified. “Sure. As soon as you tell me why,” he demanded.

“I’ll tell you in the car, I promise.”

“Not good enough.”

“Eric, please.”

He didn’t know what to do. He looked up and saw Unusual come on stage. The one guy, Michael, looked mad, and the others looked afraid. Afraid of him or afraid of what made him angry, he wasn’t sure. They walked out to the middle of the stage. Everyone screamed, except Eric and Ally. Ally looked up and saw Michael looking right at them.

“Oh, God,” she whispered under her breath.

“Hello ladies and gentlemen. My name is Mic Ginuese.”

Ally was scared. She knew that he knew. How could he not? He looked right at them. He wouldn’t say something, would he? She hoped not. Maybe she and Eric could leave before he said anything. Please don’t let him say anything, she silently pleased. Luck, as it turned out, was not on her side that night.

“Next week is my girlfriend’s birthday. I see she was able to come to the show after all. I’m so glad,” Mic said sarcastically. “I’d like to dedicate this first song to my lying, cheating, conniving, now ex-girlfriend, Allison. Enjoy. Oh, and um, unhappy birthday.”

“Oh no,” Ally said as Unusual started the song “Not For Me”. They just stood in front of the stage, stunned, as the band played, not knowing what to say to each other.

Eric looked at Ally as the band started their second song. “You lied to me,” he accused.

“I’m sorry Eric, really.” She couldn’t even look at him. She couldn’t believe Mic just did that to her. She knew that she just lost everything, and more than likely, everyone.

“We’re leaving,” Eric said, grabbing Ally’s arm, pulling her along behind him. Once they got to the parking lot, he stopped. His abrupt halt made Ally walk into him.

“Jerk,” Ally muttered, wiping her eyes. Eric quickly looked up at her. “Mic, not you,” she clarified. “I can’t believe he did that. I admit I deserve it, though.” She leaned against the car, put her head down and cried.

Eric ignored the urge to go over and hug her, to do anything that he could to make her pain go away. He just wanted to comfort her and make her tears stop. “How could you do this?” Eric asked instead. He was angry and fighting back his own tears.

“I was going to break up with him, I swear.” She bit her lip, knowing that it wasn’t really an excuse for her actions.

“But you didn’t. And do you honestly expect me to believe that? You’re gonna break up with a pop star for a nobody?” He didn’t believe her. Did she think he was stupid?

Now it was her turn to be angry. “You’re not a nobody. I meant what I said before. You’re the sweetest guy I ever met. Mic didn’t even ask me to tonight. And if he did, I would've said no so I could be with you.”

He didn’t know what to say. A part of him agreed with what Mic had said, but he knew she was hurting. He didn’t know if he could believe her or not. “I need time, Ally,” he said as he walked towards her. She looked up and nodded.

They got into the car to go home. They talked enough to keep them sane during the long ride home, but it was a tense conversation.

***

The weekend after the fiasco of Ally’s love life, Mic was trying to get a hold of Jack to see if he wanted to go clubbing.

Mic called Jack’s house and the machine picked up. He left a message and tried his cell. It rang four times before he heard the click of someone answering it.

“Jack, let’s go clubbing. It’ll be fun. Brent really wants to go,” Mic said before the person on the other end could even say ‘hello’. “Jack, are you there?”

“No, he’s not,” a female voice replied.

“Allison!” Mic almost screamed her name in shock. “What? I would’ve…I’m sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number.” Mic felt so humiliated. He couldn’t believe he did that.

“No Mic. You didn’t dial the wrong number,” she replied in an almost-whisper.

“What? Then how…?” Mic sat down on the bed, not knowing what to do or say. “Where is Jack?” he finally demanded.

“He went for a walk,” Ally said, willing herself to stay calm.

“Why didn’t you answer the house line?”

“It didn’t ring,” was her shocked answer.

“I just called.” His skepticism grew about the situation that had unraveled before him. It continued to grow the more she spoke.

“Which number did you dial?” she asked.

“Jack’s house number,” was his reply.

“That’s why. We moved and have a different number.”

“We?”

“Yes Mic. We.”

Mic’s mind was racing. He thought back and remembered how weird Hack had been the night of that fateful concert. He remembered how Jack had acted scared when he mentioned the number and how he thought Allison had cheated on him. It was all coming together now.

“Jack and you are living together?” he asked, amazed he didn’t see the clues earlier. They had been right in front of him this whole time.

“Yes Mic. I have to go. I’ll tell him you called,” Ally said, wanting to end this conversation as quickly as possible.

“Don’t bother,” Mic said as he hung up.

This is something I had done up in my creative writing class. Let me know what you think! :)

I know I was gone for a bit. :( But I am now back in action! :) WOOHOO!

The story is going pretty well. I did some major renovations on it already, and it's not even compete. hehe. But all the changes were for the better. :) So I'm excited and quite pleased.

The social network is going to be a huge success! At least that's my prediction. When I launched the site on Saturday I was hoping to have 10 members by the end of the week. I am pleased to announce that I made the goal in UNDER 48 hours! There are currently 15 members including myself!